Back to results
US 10,411,310 B2Granted
Methods for electrochemical cell remediation
Assignee24M Technologies, Inc.
InventorsYet-Ming Chiang, William Woodford, Hiuling Zoe Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments described herein relate generally to methods for the remediation of electrochemical cell electrodes. In some embodiments, a method includes obtaining an electrode material. At least a portion of the electrode material is rinsed to remove a residue therefrom. The electrode material is separated into constituents for reuse.
Claims29
A method for electrode remediation, the method comprising:
- obtaining a semi-solid electrode material by mechanically separating the semi-solid electrode material from a current collector, the semi-solid electrode material including an active material, a conductive additive, an electrolyte salt, and an electrolyte solvent, and is substantially free of a binder and current collector material after separation;
- rinsing the semi-solid electrode material with an organic solvent to remove the electrolyte salt and the electrolyte solvent from the active material and the conductive additive, the organic solvent including at least one of ethylmethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, butylmethyl carbonate, butylethyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, y-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, diethyl ether, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, acetonitrile, propiononitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, teraglyme, and 1,3-dioxolane;
- and
- separating the semi-solid electrode material into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including the active material and the second portion including the conductive additive using at least one of air classification, field flow fractionation, and electrophoresis.
1 more element
A method for recycling a binderless electrode material, the method comprising:
- mechanically separating the binderless electrode material from a current collector in the absence of a chemical and with substantially no current collector material present in the binderless electrode material after separation;
- rinsing the binderless electrode material with an organic solvent to remove a residue, the organic solvent including at least one of ethylmethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, butylmethyl carbonate, butylethyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, y-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, diethyl ether, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, acetonitrile, propiononitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, teraglyme, and 1,3-dioxolane;
- and
- separating the binderless electrode material into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including the active material and the second portion including the conductive additive using at least one of air classification, field flow fractionation, and electrophoresis.
1 more element
A method for recycling an electrode material, the method comprising:
- obtaining the electrode material by separating the electrode material from at least one of a current collector and a separator in the absence of heat and a chemical, the electrode material being substantially free of a binder and current collector material after separation;
- rinsing the electrode material with an organic solvent to remove at least a portion of an electrolyte salt, an electrolyte solvent, and a reaction product, the organic solvent including at least one of ethylmethyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, butylmethyl carbonate, butylethyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, y-butyrolactone, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, diethyl ether, sulfolane, methyl sulfolane, acetonitrile, propiononitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, teraglyme, and 1,3-dioxolane;
- and
- separating the electrode material into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including active electrode material and the second portion including a conductive carbon material using at least one of air classification, field flow fractionation, and electrophoresis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.